The White Horse Federation and Swindon Borough Council to improve St Luke's School

As of next week, The White Horse Federation and Swindon Borough Council will be collaborating to bring about swift improvements to St Luke's School.

As a result of having a significant and dynamic meeting, Swindon Borough Council (SBC) and The White Horse Federation (WHF) have reached an in-principle agreement that the WHF will manage St Luke’s School from Monday 13 November.

This is a joint venture involving SBC, the school and the WHF. From this date, while remaining a community school, SBC retains legal responsibility, however the operations, including all aspects of running and managing the school, will be devolved to the WHF.

This is the first step of moving the school to a position where it can be sponsored by a Multi-Academy Trust, which will take full legal and operational control of the school, and the WHF are currently named on the academy order.

This should bring a swift resolution to an unfortunate period of uncertainty for the staff, students and families.

Peter Nathan, Swindon Borough Council's Head of Education said: “I am delighted we have reached an agreement with the White Horse Federation and I am looking forward to this productive partnership and the improvements it will bring to St Luke’s.”

“This is a great opportunity to move forward with clear direction and focused improvement for pupils, parents and staff,” added Steve College, Chair of Interim Executive Board at St Luke’s School.

Helen Glass, Director of Secondary Education, the WHF, said: “I feel privileged to have the opportunity to begin to take St Luke’s on its improvement journey working in partnership with colleagues.

“We find this an exciting move forward and the stability that this move will bring is just the first step in returning this school to where it should be.  This joint venture with SBC means that the school’s future will be protected and this will produce better outcomes for St Luke’s, staff and pupils in the longer term,” said Dr Nicholas Capstick OBE, CEO the WHF."